Solving Ratio Problems

Solving Ratio Problems
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Solving a Ratio Problem bar model

  • We add the parts of the ratio to find the total number of parts.
  • There are 2 + 3 = 5 parts in the ratio in total.
  • To find the value of one part we divide the total amount by the total number of parts.
  • 50 รท 5 = 10.
  • We multiply the ratio by the value of each part.
  • 2:3 multiplied by 10 gives us 20:30.
  • The 50 counters are shared into 20 counters to 30 counters.
Find the value of one part of the ratio by dividing the amount by the total number of parts.

Multiply the ratio by the value of one part.

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example of solving ratios with steps

  • 2 + 3 = 5 and so there are 5 parts in the ratio in total.
  • We divide by this total number of parts to find the value of each part.
  • 50 รท 5 = 10.
  • We multiply the original ratio by the value of each part.
  • We have 20:30.

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Ratio Problems: Worksheets and Answers

How to Solve Ratio Problems

Here is an example of a ratio problem. In this lesson we will look at how we solve ratio problems using a few examples.

Share ยฃ50 in the ratio 2:3

We are asked to share ยฃ50 in the ratio 2:3.

This means that for every two parts a person receives, a second person is given three parts.

Share ยฃ50 in the ratio 2:3

We begin by finding the total number of parts.

There are two parts highlighted in green and three parts highlighted in orange.

Share ยฃ50 in the ratio 2:3 and 2+3 parts is 5 parts

We have five parts in our ratio in total.

Share ยฃ50 in the ratio 2:3 dividing 50 by the 5 parts

In total, all five parts are worth ยฃ50.

To be able to find out how much money each person is given, we need to know how much one part is worth.

Share ยฃ50 in the ratio 2:3 dividing 50 by the 5 parts

Each part in the ratio must have the same value.

This means that ยฃ50 must be shared equally over the five parts.

To share equally, we divide ยฃ50 by 5.

50 รท 5 = 10

So, each part is worth ยฃ10.

solving a ratio problem where ยฃ50 is shared in the ratio 2:3 by dividing 50 by the 5 parts

Now that we know that one part is worth ยฃ10, we can find out what two parts and three parts are worth.

Share ยฃ50 in the ratio 2:3 dividing 50 by the 5 parts and multiplying by the ratio to get 20 to 30

If one part is ยฃ10, two parts must equal ยฃ20.

ยฃ10 x 2 = ยฃ20

If one part is ยฃ10, three parts must equal ยฃ30.

ยฃ10 x 3 = ยฃ30

The money in this ratio problem has been shared ยฃ20:ยฃ30.

One person receives ยฃ20 and the other receives ยฃ30. We can check our answer by adding the two amounts to see if they make our original total.

ยฃ20 + ยฃ30 = ยฃ50

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Now try our lesson on How to Calculate a Ratio of a Number where we break down the process of sharing in a ratio into three steps.

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